Girls' basketball Top 20: Bishop McNamara goes wire-to-wire at No. 1
As Osbourn Park cascaded to the Siegel Center floor at VCU Saturday to celebrate the team's first-ever state title win, the Yellow Jackets brought a triumphant end to the girls' basketball season. Coach Chrissy Kelly's team, a group loaded with Division I talent that had yet to get over the hump in Virginia's Class 6, finally reached the mountaintop to conclude a dominant season.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets surge into the top five of The Washington Post's final girls' basketball rankings of the season. Led by standout junior Key Rainey, the Yellow Jackets finished as the top public program in the area.
With the season officially over, the local hierarchy is now clear. No. 1 Bishop McNamara, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion, never strayed from its perch. The top four teams in the preseason Top 20 remain the same — Sidwell Friends finishes as the No. 2 program following Independent School League and D.C. State Athletic Association victories, while Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association champion Bishop Ireton and ISL runner-up Bullis round out the top four.
In Maryland, North Point and South River each take a leap up the rankings following their state championship wins. The Eagles bulldozed their way through the playoffs and routed Western for the Maryland 4A crown, while South River made a late surge to down No. 20 Oakland Mills for their first 3A title since 1986.
The night before Osbourn Park's Virginia Class 6 victory, No. 17 Heritage claimed an improbable Class 4 title in Coach Tayler Cook's first year with the program. Eight public school teams finish in the final Top 20 of the year, with Oakland Mills jumping into the fold after reaching the Maryland 3A title game for the first time since 1998.
The Mustangs went wire-to-wire as the top-ranked team in the area this season, claiming the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship over Bishop Ireton. Last ranked: 1
The Mustangs went wire-to-wire as the top-ranked team in the area this season, claiming the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship over Bishop Ireton. Last ranked: 1
The D.C. powerhouse added two more championship trophies after beating No. 4 Bullis in the Independent School League final and trouncing No. 6 St. John's for the D.C. State Athletic Association title. LR: 2
The D.C. powerhouse added two more championship trophies after beating No. 4 Bullis in the Independent School League final and trouncing No. 6 St. John's for the D.C. State Athletic Association title. LR: 2
Nyla Brooks and the Cardinals went out on top with a 58-51 win over No. 9 Paul VI in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game. LR: 3
Nyla Brooks and the Cardinals went out on top with a 58-51 win over No. 9 Paul VI in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game. LR: 3
The Bulldogs pieced together a 24-win season for the second straight year and picked up seven regular season victories against ranked opponents. LR: 4
The Bulldogs pieced together a 24-win season for the second straight year and picked up seven regular season victories against ranked opponents. LR: 4
The Yellow Jackets' historic season culminated in the program's first-ever Virginia Class 6 state championship victory, a 60-48 win over defending champion Manchester. LR: 6
The Yellow Jackets' historic season culminated in the program's first-ever Virginia Class 6 state championship victory, a 60-48 win over defending champion Manchester. LR: 6
Thanks in part to a stellar junior campaign from Morgan Stewart, the Cadets remained in the upper echelon of WCAC programs despite having no seniors. LR: 5
Thanks in part to a stellar junior campaign from Morgan Stewart, the Cadets remained in the upper echelon of WCAC programs despite having no seniors. LR: 5
Late victories over No. 8 Elizabeth Seton and No. 15 Riverdale Baptist helped cement another 20-win season for the Warriors. LR: 7
Late victories over No. 8 Elizabeth Seton and No. 15 Riverdale Baptist helped cement another 20-win season for the Warriors. LR: 7
The Roadrunners reached 20 wins for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advanced to the WCAC semifinals. LR: 8
The Roadrunners reached 20 wins for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advanced to the WCAC semifinals. LR: 8
Senior Riley Hamburger helped lead the Panthers back to the VISAA championship game. LR: 9
Senior Riley Hamburger helped lead the Panthers back to the VISAA championship game. LR: 9
The Patriots closed their season on a nine-game tear that ended with a VISAA Division II championship win over Norfolk Christian. LR: 10
The Patriots closed their season on a nine-game tear that ended with a VISAA Division II championship win over Norfolk Christian. LR: 10
Seniors London Liley and Kennedy Austin brought the Frogs all the way to the DCSAA semifinals. LR: 11
Seniors London Liley and Kennedy Austin brought the Frogs all the way to the DCSAA semifinals. LR: 11
The Eagles clinched their first Maryland Class 4A state championship in over a decade by routing Western, 61-30. LR: 17
The Eagles clinched their first Maryland Class 4A state championship in over a decade by routing Western, 61-30. LR: 17
Junior Kiera West scored 22 points in a 56-45 win over Oakland Mills in the Maryland Class 3A championship game. The win marked the program's first state title since 1986. LR: 18
Junior Kiera West scored 22 points in a 56-45 win over Oakland Mills in the Maryland Class 3A championship game. The win marked the program's first state title since 1986. LR: 18
The Panthers saw their 18-win season come to a close against St. Anne's Belfield in the VISAA quarterfinals. LR: 12
The Panthers saw their 18-win season come to a close against St. Anne's Belfield in the VISAA quarterfinals. LR: 12
The Crusaders' strong season ended in the Maryland Private School quarterfinals against Bullis. LR: 13
The Crusaders' strong season ended in the Maryland Private School quarterfinals against Bullis. LR: 13
The Colts won their first D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association championship since 1994 against Eastern and became the first public school to score a win in the DCSAA Class AA state tournament by beating Georgetown Visitation. LR: 14
The Colts won their first D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association championship since 1994 against Eastern and became the first public school to score a win in the DCSAA Class AA state tournament by beating Georgetown Visitation. LR: 14
In Coach Tayler Cook's first year at the helm of the Leesburg program, the Pride surged all the way to a Virginia Class 4 state championship with a 46-37 win over Salem. LR: Not ranked
In Coach Tayler Cook's first year at the helm of the Leesburg program, the Pride surged all the way to a Virginia Class 4 state championship with a 46-37 win over Salem. LR: Not ranked
The Wolverines had their best season in recent memory and advanced all the way to the Virginia Class 6 state semifinals. LR: 20
The Wolverines had their best season in recent memory and advanced all the way to the Virginia Class 6 state semifinals. LR: 20
Senior Georgia Simonsen led her team to the Virginia Class 6 state semifinals for the third time in four years. LR: 19
Senior Georgia Simonsen led her team to the Virginia Class 6 state semifinals for the third time in four years. LR: 19
The top team in Howard County dazzled in the Maryland Class 3A playoffs, advancing all the way to the state title game against South River. LR: NR
Dropped out: No. 15 C.H. Flowers, No. 16 Clarksburg
The top team in Howard County dazzled in the Maryland Class 3A playoffs, advancing all the way to the state title game against South River. LR: NR
Dropped out: No. 15 C.H. Flowers, No. 16 Clarksburg
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